The Way Forward Disability Consulting

08/11/2023

Due to the Optus outage affecting Australia today, our phones are currently not working. Emails are still coming through due to a different provider. Please email through any enquires 🙏

23/08/2023

Being a Support Coordinator is a HARD job. I think most of us in this role would ageee, it’s one of the toughest paid roles in the sector right now. But we do what we do because the highs outweigh the lows, especially when we get feedback like this 💕 (name edited out for privacy).

“Good Morning
I just wanted to email to let you know how amazing Leeann Milne is. I am sure you already know this and are not surprised at all.
Leeann is my son’s support co-ordinator and has not only worked tirelessly to advocate for my son over the last few months with lodging a COC/Home & Living application but also in fighting to get funding for him to ensure continuity of supports while waiting for the outcome when funds were virtually depleted. She has also been a tremendous support to me personally through this exhausting and time-consuming process.
Leeann is passionate, kind and determined and we would be lost without her support and knowledge. I really feel so blessed to have Leeann in my son’s corner.”

Amazing work Leeann Milne!

18/08/2023

While the semi final didn’t go our way, we still have Saturday night to cheer on the CommBank Matildas
This graphic is from Key Word Sign Australia and shows how to sign “Go Matildas!” 💚💛

11/08/2023

While there is so much (and well deserved) hype surrounding our CommBank Matildas with their success at the Women’s World Cup I thought I’d share a bit about our CommBank ParaMatildas squad who will take on Asia-Pacific’s best para footballers in October.

The squad is made up of a bunch of talented footballers who face challenges with living with Cerebral Palsy, Acquired Brain Injury and/or symptoms of strokes. Paving the way for other young girls and boys living with disability in Australia.

Up, up the Tilies! 💚💛💚💛

Can you believe? Only 💯days to go! 💛💚💛

On Saturday 4 November, we will kick off our with our first-ever match on home soil. 🇦🇺

This will be the first time female footballers from across Asia will have the chance to compete in a Women's CP Football Asia Cup. 🥰

Save the date because this will be epic. 🔥

27/07/2023

Recently ABC’s Australian Story aired a story about two friends Michael and Jamie who wanted to find a way for blind and vision impaired people like themselves to have better access to screen reading technology. There screen reading product is completely free and available in 175 countries and in 50 different languages. So if you’re interested in learning more about their story you can click on the link and check out NV Access

Trusted and independent source of local, national and world news. In-depth analysis, business, sport, weather and more.

08/07/2023

Our good friend Colin Bushell Photography is always giving back to the community. Great story here from the ABC.

Sam Mooney's mum describes his intellectual disability as a "superpower", and his photography certainly reflects his great potential. Now, thanks to a generous gift from a fellow enthusiast, he can continue his passion

04/07/2023

Happy NAIDOC week!
The 2023 Theme for NAIDOC week is “For Our Elders”. We give thanks for all Elders who strengthen, shape and educate First Nations Communities.

Bobbi Lockyer is the artist who designed this years poster.
Bobbi is a proud Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru artist, born and based on Kariyarra Country in Port Hedland. Bobbi’s artwork, For Our Elders, “showcases how important our Elders are in passing down traditions and culture to our children and future.”

Find out more about how you can get involved by heading to National NAIDOC or their website https://www.naidoc.org.au

Image Description- a colourful NAIDOC week poster designed by Aboriginal artist Bobbi Lockyer with images of Aboriginal elders.

22/06/2023

If you’re in the area over the weekend make sure to pop in! Jess and the Miles family are amazing advocates and fundraisers for the MS community 💕

Today we want you to meet some of our community members, the Miles family, who are currently hard at work raising funds for this year's MS Moonlight Walk! 🌙

In partnership with the Warehouse Furniture Clearance store in Aspley, the Miles Family invite you to a 2-day event with a free sausage sizzle, face painting and coffee!

If you are in the area, why not stop in and say hello?
📅 June 24 -25
📌 Warehouse Furniture Clearance Store, Aspley
⏰ 8am-12pm
👋 Want to volunteer? https://bit.ly/466Ra9U

09/06/2023

MS Brissie to the Bay Bike Ride is coming up soon. All donations go toward finding a cure for MS.

📣 25km riders - Meet your Distance Starter Joan!

Joan was 42 when diagnosed with MS after 3 years of investigation. She will be celebrating her 60th birthday this year.

"Initially when I was first diagnosed a nurse with MS Qld helped me with guidance & support and since then they have been a great source of information on exercise, diet, and symptom management.

It is a safe haven of support by people who understand MS, a disease which can be difficult to get a handle on. Thanks to MS Qld, I have made lifelong friends many of whom also have MS.

Riding in the Brissie to Bay was one of my goals for this year and I’m able to achieve this by getting NDIS funding for my electric trike."

Joan has previously participated in 6 events as part of Cheer Club and this year will be Joan's first ride in the 10km joined by her husband.

Brissie to the Bay is the reason why they are now both avid riders.🥰

30/05/2023

Today is World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day. A day to unite the global MS community, share stories, and raise awareness for the 2.8 million people living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Today we stand with the worldwide MS community to share stories, raise awareness, and show solidarity with everyone affected by multiple sclerosis.

The four-year (2020 – 2023) global World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day ‘Connections’ theme aims to build community connection, self-connection and connections to quality care.

This year in Australia, our World MS Day is dedicated to recognising the incredible contributions of MS Nurses. We thank and celebrate the invaluable care that they provide, as well as their role in fostering important connections.

There are various landmarks around Queensland that are lit up red, including the Story Bridge pictured thanks to our friends at MS QLD. Swipe to see it lit up for



Pic ID- Two people dance in celebration as a way to connect. A circle with . Second photo is a photo of the Story Bridge in Brisbane, lit up red.

26/05/2023

Today, May 26th, is National Sorry Day 🖤💛❤️
The Way Forward team remembers and acknowledges the strength of the Stolen Generations Survivors. We also reflect on the current statistics for our First Nations children, illustrating the disastrous impacts of Australia's dysfunctional child-protection system and systematic racism.

We recognise that colonisation has resulted in devastating loss of identify, culture, language and connections. It is important we continue to have the conversations surrounding the intergenerational impacts of trauma due to government policies, and understand a collective past in Australia - this is a responsibility for each and everyone of us.

We are committed to playing our part in addressing racism, power inequalities and other ongoing impacts of colonisation, and to working beside and in solidarity with First Nations people.




Image description- text from former PM Kevin Rudd's speech that he used to apologise to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. With a faint picture of the outback in the background..

24/05/2023

As a part of Brain Cancer Awareness month I asked the Mum of one of our support coordination clients for permission to share a little about what it’s like to be a young person living with a disability as a result of having a brain tumour. Marcus has given his permission too, thanks Lauren for sharing his story.

“This is what you don’t see when you look at me” - Marcus

“Resilient Marcus was first diagnosed with posterior foster low grade Pilocytic Astrocytoma in 2018 when he was 5 years old. He endured surgeries, medications and tests, after intensive rehabilitation he made a remarkable recovery going back to enjoy playing sport and dancing. Unfortunately a few years later the tumour began to grow resulting in Marcus loosing his ability to play sport. After 12 months of chemotherapy leaving Marcus with neuropathy there seemed to be improvements. This unfortunately was short lived and within 3 months there was a rapid decline in Marcus’s health.
Courageous Marcus has just started a medical trial for an inhibitor with the goal of shrinking the tumour and the hope of giving this energetic 10 year old use of his limbs back. There is no end date for treatment.”

“We found out Marcus had a Brain tumour on 9th of March 2018 he was only first term of prep and he wouldn't wake up one morning (ambulance assumed hyperglycemia) a week later he had an MRI and they found a tumour the size of a tennis ball, posterior fosser low grade pilocytic astrocytoma. We were imediatly admitted to hospital and had surgery within a week where they were able to remove 80% of the tumour. Days in ICU were tough as he initially had posterior fosser syndrome so he couldnt even swallow water. A week later he required another surgery for the insertion of shunt due to hydrocephalus fluid leak. I try to block out those weeks in my memories as there were so many horrific days of needles, meds, tests. Although he required intensive rehab he went back to a fully functioning child who was able to play sport playing soccer and dancing. Unfortunately years later the tumour started to regrow (now in year 4), he started to lose use of his left hand and his mobility was declining, he now wasn't able to play sport or run. He started chemo the week after his 9th birthday. 12 months of chemo after having surgery to insert a port. Chemo had seemed to worked with some added neuropathy from treatment, within 3 months of finishing his decline was the most rapid we had seen: his legs now don't work well and he falls multuple times a day, he is unable to climb stairs, he doesn’t use his left arm/hand and his right is starting to decline making even writing tiring. He has just started on a medical trial (started on 14th of April) for an inhibitor which we are desperately hoping shrinks the tumour and gives him some use back, we now have no end date for treatment. He really is the strongest 10 year old I know”.

11/04/2023

If you’re keen to try a new sport how about para ice hockey. It’s for everyone!
See the main post from PIHQ for contact details.

06/04/2023

The Way Forward Disability Consulting team would like to wish you a safe and happy Easter.
We will be closed from 5pm Thursday the 6th of April until Tuesday the 11th of April.
If you require crisis support over the weekend please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 if in an emergency or attend your local hospital emergency department.

Image description- text reads Happy Easter with the above message and pictures of bunnies and flowers in pink.

22/03/2023

Backyard Bolters are looking for new recruits! See the details below.

13/03/2023

For our Southside followers, our friends at Holt Bolt have opened up a new centre, operating out of Nursery Rd Special School. Such great news 🙌

Our New Holt Bolt Centre located on the grounds of Nursery Road Special School is up and running! The centre can be accessed by both the school community and the wider community from 7am-6pm. All ages and abilities are welcome to come and participate in Holt Bolt 1:1 Exercise Physiology sessions (run by Jade) and Holt Bolt group basketball sessions on Wednesday afternoons (starting term 2- run by Richard). The centre combines the best commercial gym equipment with arcade machines and fitness gadgets. Bolters can also choose to learn new skills and utilise the oval or basketball court during their Ex Phys sessions. NDIS funding may be used for Holt Bolt services. To book a service please email admin@theholtbolt.com.

08/03/2023

Happy International Women’s Day!
Please check out this post from the Australian Network on Disability and their suggestions on 12 fabulous women that you can follow on socials who continue to fight for inclusion and equity for women with disabilities.

-image description- International Woman’s Day in purple writing with the IWD logo. 6 cartoon pictures of different women of various backgrounds, ages and disabilities.

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we celebrate the incredible social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the globe and share a call to action to continue to build an equitable and inclusive world.

This year's theme of reminds us that creating benefits everyone, and that we must continue to work together to achieve it.

As part of our celebration, we wanted to recommend 12 women you can follow on socials as they share their experiences, fight for inclusion, and make a positive impact in our community: https://www.and.org.au/news-and-events/happy-international-womens-day/

Let's celebrate all and join together to raise awareness and create a more and equitable world, where everyone is free from bias and discrimination.